Villarreal's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini has not played the 28-year-old midfielder since the beginning of last month, and the player has refused, according to sports newspaper Marca, all bids though some have come from major European clubs.

Riquelme, under contract till the summer of 2008, has been criticised by club president Fernando Roig for being a prima donna.

Riquelme trained normally on Thursday but has refused to speak to the Spanish media.

"He is part of the team and he is training. If the time is right he could be called up this month" by Pellegrini, a club spokesman told AFP on Thursday without further comment.

However, the Chilean coach looks unlikely to give Riquelme a start, particularly as he seems to have found a good replacement in talented young Chilean player Matias Fernandez.